At night, Chen Yu finally arrived at the entrance of Broken Ravine Valley.
He abandoned his horse and used his Lightness Skill, swiftly weaving through the dense forest.
Before long, he located the bandits’ camp by the glow of firelight and rising smoke.
“One, two, three, four… twelve, thirteen…”
Thirteen people. The number matched what Kang Min had said.
However, these “bandits” walked with steady, heavy steps. Even while eating and drinking, they constantly glanced around, maintaining vigilance.
They were nothing like the rumors described… not mediocre fighters who only knew how to flee.
Chen Yu observed them for quite a while. Suddenly, he sensed movement not far behind him. He turned sharply, only to see a pretty little face pop out from the bushes.
Who else could it be but Ah Zi?
She clearly hadn’t noticed him and was just looking around beneath the trees, obviously searching for him.
[Current Target: Ah Zi]
[Malicious Thought 1: Kill senior brother Zhai Xingzi.] Advanced Reward
[Malicious Thought 2: I followed his scent, so where did he go? He runs too fast. One day I’ll break his legs.] Intermediate Reward
[Malicious Thought 3: I wonder if senior brother and the others have already set up the ambush. Hehe, I hope Chen Yu falls into their trap.] Intermediate Reward
So it really was a trap.
Chen Yu had already suspected as much. This mission had felt strange from the beginning.
He needed to complete a promotion task, yet such a simple mission appeared so conveniently just a short distance from the Beggar Sect Headquarters.
He never believed in coincidences. Nor had he ever trusted that poisonous woman, Kang Min.
No matter how affectionate or intimate she acted, she was still someone capable of murdering her own husband.
But what was the purpose of this trap? Had Kang Min already colluded with Bai Shijing, Quan Guanqing, and the others?
Were they trying to kill him?
Chen Yu couldn’t figure it out.
Yet deep down, he felt this matter was definitely connected to Quan Guanqing.
…
At the same time.
Luoyang City, Beggar Sect Headquarters.
Kang Min walked beneath the eaves when suddenly a sharp object cut through the air and stabbed directly into the ground at her feet.
She narrowed her eyes and noticed a figure standing on the other side of a rock garden not far away.
Looking closely, it was none other than Quan Guanqing.
“Branch Leader Quan.”
Kang Min slightly bowed and glanced back toward the hall, where the leaders of the Beggar Sect were drinking and feasting. She smiled, “Have you had enough to drink?”
Tonight, Ma Dayuan had hosted a banquet to send off several branch leaders who had come to report at the headquarters. As the leader of the Great Wisdom Sub-branch, Quan Guanqing was naturally invited.
“I’ve never liked drinking.” Quan Guanqing showed disdain, but upon seeing Kang Min’s beautiful face, his arrogance softened slightly. He cupped his hands and said, “Madam Ma, I have something to discuss with you.”
“Oh? What important matter requires avoiding everyone and speaking here in the dark?” Kang Min’s tone carried teasing and mockery, keeping a deliberate distance from him.
Quan Guanqing’s expression turned unpleasant. He remembered that although this beautiful woman had once treated him coldly, she had never been so openly sarcastic.
“To be honest, Madam, a few days ago I happened to see a letter left by former Sect Master Wang Jiantong for Vice Sect Master Ma… do you know the contents of that letter?”
Kang Min let out a soft laugh. “What letter are you talking about, Branch Leader Quan?”
“Of course, the letter revealing Sect Master Qiao Feng’s background.” Quan Guanqing no longer bothered with subtlety and said coldly, “Qiao Feng is not from the Great Song Empire… he’s a Khitan! How can such a man be the Sect Master of our Beggar Sect? Madam, I know you’ve always wanted Vice Sect Master Ma to compete for that position. Back then, when the old Sect Master passed the role to Qiao Feng instead of him, many brothers were dissatisfied.”
He spoke at length, but Kang Min showed no reaction, merely remaining silent.
Quan Guanqing was already growing impatient. He cupped his hands again and said, “I am willing to take the lead and publicly expose Qiao Feng’s identity. After driving him out, we can support Brother Dayuan as Sect Master. Then you would rightfully become the Sect Master’s wife.”
“Isn’t this what you’ve always wanted?” he said with confidence.
Kang Min’s eyes flickered. She brushed a strand of hair behind her ear and replied innocently, “How would you know what a sheltered woman like me wants? Perhaps I only wish for my husband to live a long life.”
You probably wish he’d die tonight.
Quan Guanqing sneered inwardly. His gaze toward Kang Min gradually turned lustful. “Why keep pretending? Madam, I’m willing to help you achieve your desires. I have no interest in the Sect Master position. I only ask that you do one small thing…”
Quan Guanqing felt heat rise through his body. Lowering his voice, he said, “I want you to accompany me!”
His gaze burned with desire. With such an opportunity, he didn’t believe she would refuse.
As fellow schemers, he believed he had already seen through Kang Min’s intentions.
Kang Min appeared startled, as if she hadn’t expected him to speak so bluntly. Her beautiful face flushed red, the blush spreading from her cheeks to the tips of her ears.
A moment later, that shy expression vanished. She dropped the act and burst into laughter.
“I refuse.”
Quan Guanqing could hardly believe his ears. After confirming he hadn’t misheard, he became furious with embarrassment, growling, “Why?”
He had never believed Kang Min was some chaste and virtuous woman. What a joke.
He could sense how much she enjoyed the burning gazes of others. He was certain he wasn’t imagining it.
“Because I don’t want to sleep with you.” Kang Min’s refusal was decisive, even carrying a hint of contempt. She smiled faintly and added, “Quan Guanqing, you’re not qualified.”
Not qualified?
Quan Guanqing’s eyes darkened further. Anger turned into a cold laugh. “Then who is? Bai Shijing? Xi Shanhe? Or that old man Xu Chongxiao who’s about to die?”
“Anyone but you.” Kang Min yawned, finding him both ridiculous and boring. She turned to leave.
But behind her, Quan Guanqing let out a sinister laugh. “No need to say more. I already know who you mean…”
“That little bastard surnamed Chen. You want him to get rid of Ma Dayuan for you… isn’t that right…”
Kang Min stopped in her tracks.
Quan Guanqing’s tone was no longer angry. Instead, it became eerily calm as he mocked, “Madam Ma, I’m not trying to discourage you, but your plan is already impossible.”
“Did you really think it was such a coincidence? That not far from the headquarters there just happened to be a small group of bandits… and that a Beggar Sect disciple just happened to tell you about it…”
Kang Min suddenly turned around. The smile on her face had vanished.
Her expression was icy, completely different from her usual delicate demeanor, her eyes filled with chilling intent.
The next moment, she ignored Quan Guanqing and hurried back inside.
…
Back at Broken Ravine Valley, Chen Yu kept watching the bandit camp while also keeping an eye on Ah Zi searching for him.
The vicious girl lowered her voice, softly calling his name.
After searching for a long time without finding him, she finally placed her hands on her waist in frustration.
“Junior sister, who are you looking for?”
Ah Zi suddenly felt a chill behind her. She turned in alarm and saw a young man with distinct foreign features descending gracefully from the air.
Chen Yu, not far away, observed clearly. The man looked around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, wearing a fur hat, handsome in appearance. However, like Shi Houzi, his eye sockets were dark, and his complexion had a sickly yellow-green hue… likely from practicing poison arts.
“S… senior brother…” Ah Zi looked flustered but quickly forced a smile. “Long time no see, senior brother. I heard you came to the Central Plains too. I missed you so much that I came to find you immediately.”
This man was none other than Ding Chunqiu’s eldest disciple… the Star Constellation Sect’s senior brother, Zhai Xingzi.
“You have quite sharp ears.” Zhai Xingzi sneered, then asked maliciously, “What are you doing here alone at this hour? And you still haven’t told me who you’re looking for, junior sister.”
“I’m not looking for anyone.” Ah Zi shook her head rapidly like a rattle drum, extremely wary of him.
The relationships within the Star Constellation Sect were nothing like those of orthodox sects. Their leader, Ding Chunqiu, was cruel and despicable, managing his disciples like poisonous insects, encouraging them to fight each other to produce the strongest survivor.
Thus, Ah Zi’s relationship with her fellow disciples was complicated.
On one hand, she had grown up among them and had some attachment.
On the other, she constantly faced the threat of death.
After learning that her senior brother was part of the ambush against Chen Yu, she had come to watch the show and perhaps take advantage of the chaos to obtain the Antidote Pill.
But instead of trapping Chen Yu, she herself had been caught by Zhai Xingzi.
“Several rare herbs are missing from Master’s medicine room. Tell me honestly, Ah Zi… did you steal them?” Zhai Xingzi narrowed his eyes. “You have no idea how furious Master was after you ran away from Star Constellation Sea. We’ve all suffered because of you.”
“Hehe, senior brother is exceptionally talented, with martial skills that shake the ages. Master has always valued you. There won’t be any severe punishment…” Ah Zi spoke while quietly edging toward the edge of the bushes.
She wanted to escape.
However, Zhai Xingzi made no move to stop her. Instead, he stared toward the treetops on the other side and said, “You’ve watched long enough, haven’t you? Why hide? Come out and talk.”
With a wave of his sleeve, three green fireballs appeared out of thin air.
With a sharp cry, the fireballs shot forward.
Boom.
The tree exploded.
Chen Yu flipped down from the tree. He could tell that Zhai Xingzi was far stronger than Shi Houzi from the other day.
“Chen Yu!” Ah Zi’s eyes lit up. She immediately hid behind him and looked up pitifully. “Where did you go? I’ve been looking for you for so long.”
Looking for me so you could set me up?
Chen Yu ignored her, focusing entirely on Zhai Xingzi.
“I’ve heard about it. You’re the one who killed my junior brother Shi Houzi, right?” Zhai Xingzi raised both hands. Instantly, eight or nine green fireballs rose again, looking eerie and dangerous.
“Don’t misunderstand. I didn’t get along with him. But no matter what, he was still a disciple of our Star Constellation Sect. Since you killed him, leave your life here today.”
His tone was arrogant, as if victory was already assured.
“No choice…” Chen Yu shook his head, his face filled with helplessness.
Zhai Xingzi looked confused but didn’t bother asking. With a flick of his left hand, the green fireballs surged forward like swarming fireflies toward Chen Yu.
“I don’t actually like killing people.”
Chen Yu gathered Inner Strength in his right hand. In an instant, his aura surged. Cold Ice True Qi condensed in his palm.
But the reward was simply too tempting.
Ah Zi’s malicious thought… killing Zhai Xingzi would grant him his first Advanced Reward.
“I think you still don’t understand your situation.” Zhai Xingzi sneered, letting out a strange low hum.
At once, the “bandits” in the camp all rushed out.
“Someone paid for your life. The real bandits have already been killed by me.” Zhai Xingzi pointed at them confidently. “Star Constellation Sect, Yellow River Gang, Iron Palm Sect, Tantric Sect, and Western Xia First Hall… these dozen people are all well-known experts in the martial world. Even the weakest among them are elites of their respective sects.”
“You have no chance of escape.”
Ah Zi, who had been hiding behind Chen Yu, swallowed hard at the sight. She immediately distanced herself and said with a straight face, “Chen Yu, you killed my second senior brother Shi Houzi. Today, I cannot coexist with you!”
She raised her head. “Senior brother, Ah Zi will support you from the side!”
Seeing Chen Yu glance at her with disdain, Ah Zi blinked slyly and stuck out her tongue. “In war, deception is key. Take this!”
Before she could act, the two high-ranking warriors from Western Xia First Hall on the far right moved first.
One wielded a blade, the other a sword. They roared as they charged forward, aiming straight for Chen Yu’s vital points.
In the distance, Zhai Xingzi’s eyes turned cold. With a light wave of his left hand, streams of green fireballs shot through the air, targeting Chen Yu’s weak defenses.
He’s dead for sure!
Ah Zi thought, though her eyes darted around as she considered how to escape.
If possible, she even hoped to search his body in the chaos… perhaps the Antidote Pill was on him.
However, the next moment, events unfolded beyond her expectations.
The two Western Xia First Hall experts who charged first were instantly killed by Chen Yu, one palm strike each!
Chen Yu attacked with both hands. The Nine Yang Manual surged to full power. Using Cold Ice True Qi, he killed the two attackers, then snatched the sword from the one who wielded it.
In the next instant, a cold light flashed in his eyes. Pouring Inner Strength into the sword, he unleashed three moves from the Jade Flute Sword Art… Xiao Shi Rides the Dragon, Clear Melody Beyond the Mountains, Resonance of Gold and Jade.
Three moves… and three more elites from the Yellow River Gang and Iron Palm Sect were killed.
At the same time, he used Phantom Ripple Steps to evade Zhai Xingzi’s fireballs.
Ah Zi was completely stunned. She stood there in a daze for several seconds before suddenly clapping her hands and laughing, “Good brother, I knew these trash weren’t your match!”
“Little Ah Zi really likes you the most!”